Epiphany thanks Bartholomew for organizing his trip to Athos

Epiphany Dumenko sent an official letter of thanks to Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople for organizing the visit of the head of the OCU to the Holy Mount Athos. In his letter, Dumenko emphasized that the pilgrimage to Athos strengthened his «faith and courage.» This is reported by the Orthodox Times.

«Having returned home by the grace of God after visiting the Holy Mountain, filled with spiritual experiences and heavenly gifts, we want to express our sincere gratitude to Your All-Holiness. Thank God, everything we experienced during our three days on Mount Athos was sacred and blessed. This strengthened our faith and courage to continue our divinely entrusted service to the Ukrainian people,» Dumenko wrote in an official letter to the head of Phanar.

Earlier, we reported that a group of Athonite Kelliotis monks published a joint statement in which they expressed a strong protest against the visit of the head of the OCU Epiphany Dumenko to the Holy Mount Athos. The monks called his presence non-canonical, saying that it caused spiritual damage and deep sorrow in the monastic community.